US revokes visas of 6 foreigners for speeches linked to Charlie Kirk
The Trump administration has revoked the U.S. visas of six foreign nationals after determining that they made mocking or disparaging remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah college campus last month. The State Department announced Tuesday that the decision followed a review of social media posts and video clips in which the individuals appeared to make light of Kirk’s death. The move coincided with President Donald Trump’s posthumous awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk, whom he hailed as a “great American hero” and “martyr for freedom.”
The six individuals whose visas were revoked came from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa, though the government did not release their names. In a statement, the State Department said Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would continue to defend “our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws,” adding that any foreign nationals who “celebrate the assassination of our citizens” would be expelled. The administration’s actions are part of a wider campaign to crack down on foreigners deemed to have expressed hostility toward the United States or its leaders. Vice President JD Vance and other officials have publicly encouraged Americans to report offensive social media content about Kirk, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau even urging users to tag him directly in posts so consular officials could “undertake appropriate action.”
Beyond Tuesday’s visa revocations, the administration has broadened its efforts to identify and remove foreigners accused of fomenting unrest or expressing support for anti-Israel demonstrations. Officials have denied visas to applicants who criticized U.S. policies online and expelled several diplomats and public figures for remarks deemed disrespectful to Trump or his administration. Among those targeted were South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, who was removed for comments critical of the president, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose visa to attend the U.N. General Assembly was revoked. The administration also canceled visas for the British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan and announced a sweeping review of more than 55 million active visa holders to determine possible violations.
Civil rights advocates have sharply criticized these actions, arguing that they amount to retaliation against constitutionally protected speech. Legal experts note that while the government has broad authority over immigration matters, the First Amendment’s protections extend to anyone present in the United States, not only to American citizens. Critics warn that the administration’s approach could chill political expression, especially among foreign students and residents who fear deportation for their opinions. The State Department, however, has defended the measures as necessary to uphold “national dignity and moral standards” following Kirk’s assassination.
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